1996 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands-Echézeaux Grand Cru

This dark-colored wine has a nose reminiscent of stony blackberries, brambleberries, and smoke. This rich, powerful, expansive, pasty, and concentrated wine offers loads of cassis and black cherries in its flavor profile. Projected maturity: 2003-2008. This wine appeared a little strange to me when taken in the context of the vintage. In general, the vintage offers bright fruit, whereas at Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret, it was less vibrant, fatter perhaps, and ever-so-slightly pasty. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel (205) 980-8802.